LHC chooses Routeways as 2018 charity partner

LHC has announced that it will be supporting Plymouth-based charity Routeways during 2018, aiming to raise over £3,000 to buy brand new kit for the charity’s Adventure Activity Breaks for disabled children.

Routeways has been operating in Plymouth for over 20 years and delivers a wide range of targeted services for children and families who are at risk of social exclusion in the city, helping them to overcome disadvantage.

LHC felt a particular affinity with the charity’s Adventure Activity Breaks. Our 40 staff have a track record of fundraising by taking on adventurous outdoor challenges, and encouraging staff to step out of their comfort zone.

Graham Devine, Director at LHC said,

There is a huge attraction in helping adventurous young people take part in daring, fun activities that perhaps they wouldn’t normally experience; we hope to do this once again by devising an interesting challenge which will take us a world away from our comfortable studio. Watch this space!

Adventure Activity Breaks are based in the Devonport Park Activity Centre, close to several of LHC’s major regeneration projects. Trained staff take young people with special educational needs and disabilities on adventurous and challenging activities on Dartmoor such as moor walking, wild cooking, canoeing, gorge walking, rock scrambling and den building.

The sessions are about developing many of the essential social skills that most of us take for granted, but most importantly the children get to have fun, increase in confidence and make friends.

The charity is looking to replace outdoor kit such as wetsuits, helmets and canoes which are nearing the end of their life. It is also planning to invest in new equipment to extend the range of activities to include archery, kayaking and paddle boarding. Young people are referred to the service, but there is always a waiting list and the charity is hoping to expand the service to include more young people.

Mark Collings, Chief Executive, Routeways commented,

We’ve been bowled over by the level of enthusiasm for our kit project at LHC, and really excited to be working with the team.

Activity Breaks is one of a range of services that Routeways provides for Plymouth, including employment support for young people, after-school groups for under 8s, parent and toddler support, groups for children with mental health issues, holiday clubs and education for homeless children.